STATE SERVICE FOR ETHNIC POLICY EXPLAINS WHAT STATUS THE U.P.Ts.M.P. HAS TODAY
Until 27 May 2022, the UPTsMP [Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate] was a part of the RPTs [Russian Orthodox Church]. Now the UPTsMP maintains its links with world Orthodoxy through the Russian church. This was stated on the website of the Ukrainian State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience.
"As a result of the brutal Russian invasion into Ukraine and its support by the leadership of the RPTs, particularly the personal support by Patriarch Kirill, the UPTs distanced itself from the RPTs in accordance with a decision by the Council of the UPTs of 27 May," the State Service for Ethnic Policy noted.
According to the new charter, the UPTsMP is not governed by decisions of the Bishops' Council of the RPTs. The primate of the UPTsMP is not a member of the Synod of the RPTs, and a newly elected primate of the UPTsMP will not need to receive the blessing of Moscow.
"In reaction to this decision by the UPTs, the RPTs annexed parishes of the UPTs in Crimea and also a number of others in the temporarily occupied territories. At the same time, as of the present time the UPTs continues to acknowledge its link with ecumenical Orthodoxy through the RPTs. In maintaining such a connection, the UPTs is not conducting any formal coordination of its international activity with the RPTs, and it denies any ties of subordination to the RPTs. Despite the fact that the UPTs has officially informed the Department for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience about the change in the charter, as of 23 July 2022 the new charter concerning the administration of the UPTs and the UPTs' explanation regarding it have not been published on the official UPTs website," the Ukrainian State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience notes. (tr. by PDS, posted 25 July 2022)
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